Marrakech best things to do
1. Jemaa el-Fna, a plaza that changes its appearance from day tonight.
The Jemaa el-Fna plaza is the beating heart of Marrakech medina, where the city’s public life takes place. Knowing this square is to find a wonderful spot with two distinct faces, one visible during the day and the other visible at night.
Jemma el-Fna is alive with strange activities and odd personalities such as monkey tamers, snake charmers, and water bearers when the sun shines. The booths that line the area are devoted to selling a wide range of items.
When the sun sets, the mood changes dramatically, and the vendors selling different sorts of traditional cuisine take command of the area. It is one of the things to do in Marrakech that you should not miss out on under any circumstances.
2. Sip orange juice and eat at a stall while watching the world go by on the patio of a pub in Jemma el-Fna.
The Jemaa el-Fna plaza is so vital in Marrakech’s everyday life that it offers some of the imperial city’s most important activities for tourists.
We can see the activity going place in the area from above while sipping mint tea on one of the terraces of the pubs near to it. It’s also a unique opportunity to be a firsthand observer of the changes that occur after nightfall.
Another delectable tradition is to stop by one of the numerous vendors encircling the area for fresh orange juice and, of course, supper at one of the night stalls. Traditional Moroccan cuisine at a reasonable price.
3. Consider the iconic Koutoubia Mosque and its minaret, although from the outside.
The Koutoubia mosque, located in the Jemaa el-Fna plaza, is the city’s most significant mosque and, at one time, one of the biggest in the Islamic world. Its name is derived from “the booksellers,” whose booths encircled it in the eleventh century.
Non-Muslims are not permitted to enter, as is customary in the city. Nonetheless, contemplating its recognizable profile and minaret, which are so evocative of Seville’s Giralda, is immensely appealing. It is the city’s tallest skyscraper, with a minaret about 70 meters high.
4. Take a stroll around Marrakech’s souk and discount shopping.
A tangle of little lanes runs from the north of the Jemaa el-Fna plaza, with hundreds of booths devoted to the selling of various things on a regular basis.
It is a massive souk that displays the distinctive goods of all of Marrakech’s historic guilds, offering anything from apparel and handicrafts to spices, cuisine, and traditional items of all types.
Purchasing anything at the souk necessitates participation in the souk’s bargaining ritual, in which the sellers are actual masters. To arrive at a reasonable price, one should not ask for more than a third of what they first requested. However, their theatrical attitudes and inherent talent make reaching that fair point quite difficult.
5. Visiting Mellah’s unusual Jewish quarter.
It’s not a typical visit, but it’s fascinating because it’s a neighborhood that goes back to the sixteenth century, when it was home to one of Europe’s greatest Jewish populations, banished mostly from Spain and Portugal. Today, synagogues like Al Azama and a typical Jewish cemetery have been maintained.
Another of the trips we propose in Marrakech is a walk around its streets to appreciate its atmosphere and heritage.
6. Take a stroll around the Menara and Majorelle gardens, a lush orchard in the midst of dry landscape.
The tourist may get a moment of respite and a breath of fresh air in one of the city’s gardens during the hottest days of summer. The most well-known are those of Menara, which were built in 1870 on the site of a big pond from the Almohad era. Thousands of olive trees around it get their own irrigation from its waters.
The Majorelle Gardens, developed in the 1920s by the same-named French painter and presented to the public in 1947, are more contemporary. Its lush trees enable you to breathe fresh air even on the hottest summer days. Cacti, bamboos, palms, banana trees, coconut trees, and a great variety of aquatic plants are among the plant species found in the garden.
7. Touring the imperial city’s majestic palaces
Moroccan Desert Tours in Marrakech is the Bahia Palace (late 1800s). Decades were spent building this huge 8 acre castle complete with courts and gardens.
The woodwork on its magnificent walls, doors, and ceilings still bears evidence to this purpose.
Late-16th century Badi Palace in ruins. It featured about 300 rooms, all decorated in turquoise, gold, and crystal, and its name signified “unparalleled.”
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8. Visiting Marrakech’s Palm Grove is a must.
The city’s outstanding Palm Grove, with over 100,000 examples dispersed over 13,000 hectares, must not be missed when it comes to orchards. It was founded by Marrakech’s founder, Youssef Ben Tachfine, according to folklore.
Some say the soldiers slept here and threw the dates seeds, giving birth to this vast palm grove. To experience the “red city” from a different perspective, take a camel ride.
A high-end urban development plan includes hotels, private mansions, and golf courses in this age-old neighborhood.
9. Take a horse-drawn carriage trip through Marrakech’s streets.
Aside from dromedary excursions, a horse-drawn carriage trip is another popular tourist attraction. The route from Jemma el-Fna plaza to the Palmeraie Golf Palace Hotel, situated at the end of the Palm Grove, is a very classic and thorough tour that takes approximately two hours and is a very enjoyable ride.
10. Experiencing the Sahara Desert is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
We have the opportunity to learn about the world’s biggest desert, the Sahara, from Marrakech. The world’s greatest dry region stretches for more than 9 million kilometers.
Excursions by automobile or 4WD may take you to two major areas: Zagora, which is closer and has less dunes, and Merzouga, which has dunes up to 150 meters high.
Spending the night in a traditional Berber haima beneath a beautiful starry sky and watching the gorgeous dawn amongst the dunes is a great way to round off a trip to the desert.
11. Stopping by a hammam in the midst of the journey to unwind.
We can unwind while participating in a traditional Arabian ritual by visiting one of their famed hammams, which are steam baths with skin exfoliation. Aside from its primary purpose, the hammam is a true gathering place.
This has grown standard to the point that every community now has one, generally near mosques. Of course, they have separate rooms for male and female guests, or they set up separate timetables so that they do not overlap inside.
It is necessary to bring your own towel and flip-flops to the traditional hammams, as well as the customary exfoliating black soap and a kessa sponge, which can be purchased at any street kiosk. It is, as you would expect, one of the most soothing pastimes in Marrakech.
12. It’s impossible to visit Marrakech without sampling mint tea and Arabic sweets.
When it comes to learning about and assimilating into Moroccan culture, we must not overlook the omnipresent tea. Mint tea is a delicacy in Marrakech, and it’s customary to enjoy it with delicious cakes or traditional pastries. Honey, pistachios, and almonds are all must-have components in these desserts.
On a practical level, knowing what options are available for getting from the airport to the city center will be useful: How to go from Marrakech’s airport to the city center.
13. Get a sense of the difference between the new city and neighborhoods like Gueliz, the “European district.”
Although tourists are most familiar with and love the old section of Marrakech, the city has grown significantly over time, generating new districts that are well worth seeing.
Gueliz is one of the new areas where the majority of the city’s foreign residents have opted to dwell. The existence of huge avenues like as Mohammed V, which is more than 3 kilometers long, distinguishes this “European neighborhood.”
This region is much more westernized, with exclusive enterprises such as the most opulent clothes boutiques. It also has a plethora of Western eateries, such as pizzerias and hamburger establishments, for people who want them while visiting a Moroccan city.
14. Relax and listen to current music at Marrakech’s beach clubs.
Another option to celebrate the new times in Marrakech is to go to one of the city’s beach clubs. Beach clubs, in general, are enormous swimming pools (sometimes exceeding 3,200 square meters) surrounded with Balinese beds and sun loungers.
A DJ plays live music, which adds to the ambience. The Nikki Beach Marrakech and the Plage Rouge are two of the most popular tourist destinations in Morocco. Two fantastic choices for cooling down from Morocco’s hot temperature and taking in the country’s pleasant ambience.
15. Returning to tradition, a visit to the medersa Ben Youssef is in order.
Another of Marrakech’s customary trips is to Ben Youssef’s medersa or madrasa. It’s a Muslim religious studies institution that was built to service a neighboring mosque. In this situation, we’re dealing with Morocco’s biggest and most prominent medersa, which dates back to 1565 and has been standing since then.
Nearly 900 kids were confined inside its 130 cells. The colorful tile ornamentation, as well as the center courtyard, which is adorned with an enormous iron light, are quite magnificent.
16. Visit the majestic Hall of Twelve Columns at the Saadian tombs.
Marrakech’s Saadian tombs are another must-see. Despite their age, they were discovered and made public in 1917. The spectacular main tomb, known as the Hall of the Twelve Columns, is a must-see.
A dozen marble columns support a handmade cedar wood dome. Intriguing are the nearby Mihrab and three niche chambers The enclosure’s grounds include roughly 100 burials devoted to the dynasty’s troops and servants.
17. Marrakech’s gastronomy is a key draw.
Marrakech’s cuisine is one of the city’s main attractions. In this regard, the city is well-equipped, both with traditional and more international food.
Tajines and couscous are popular dinners in Marrakech and Morocco. Tajines contain fish and meat stews, whereas couscous is a semolina-based lamb or chicken stew.
Lunch options are varied and fairly priced. Dining at one of the many food stalls in the Jemaa el-Fna square is an amazing experience, both in terms of the food and the unique atmosphere.
There are excursions to the Ouzoud waterfalls, Essaouira, and Ouarzazate.
Excursions from Marrakech to fantastic sites and countries are common. One of the most popular trips is to the 110 meter high Ouzoud waterfalls.
Essaouira, dubbed the “jewel of the Atlantic” by UNESCO, is another favorite Marrakech destination. Fishermen from the “red city” flock to this little walled settlement, which supplies us with excellent seafood and fish bargains.
Many of our excursions leave from Marrakech and take us to beautiful destinations like Ouarzazate, called “Hollywood of Africa” for hosting major film studios and acting as the setting for films like The Ten Commandments.
The Ourika River route offers views of the High Atlas, a sharp contrast to Morocco’s typical arid and flat environment.
19. Shopping is accessible almost everywhere in town.
Several traditional objects are handmade. Some are even made right there in the booths. They are wonderful Marrakech souvenirs.
Other markets and booths offer a range of commodities, including leather and fur tanned using ancient processes. Materials include djellabas, tapestries, carpets, and interesting silver and copper items.
People love dates, exquisite honey pastes, and spices, which are sold all around the city, especially at Rahba Kadima Square (the spice square).
20. Museum tours for collectors.
Finally, Marrakech has several unique museums that let us better understand the city’s life and culture. The Marrakech Museum is situated in a late-19th-century castle’s apartments.
The museum’s valuables are shown in rooms grouped around a large courtyard lit by an incredible lamp. The exhibition features swords, carpets, and ceramics from Morocco.
The Museum of Moroccan Arts, Dar Si Said, is the city’s oldest museum. It has a larger collection of artifacts on display than the previous one, including musical instruments and furniture.
